Step-Cousin

It was a Friday night Lin Qing got out of bathroom and dried her hair she sat on her bed and she let out a hefty sigh while looking at her phone, "System, I feel lost , it's like an emotional limbo. Hmm I really don't know..."

The System, internally musing, 'Not designed for therapy sessions,' responded her patiently,

"Host, this ain't your first rodeo, and you're not some highschool drama queen either.

You've gotta nail this; otherwise, it's game over. Just be yourself and charm him."

"But Su Haoyu is... different..." Lin Qing continued, distractedly sighing as she pictured him while talking, "I mean, you know how he is, too shy, too reserved.

The guys I've dated wouldn't hesitate... if I did half of the things I tried on him.

Ugh, I'm not used to this. What if I can't? It might seem like I'm the one in control, but honestly, I feel like a fish out of water. I thought I was good at bluffing or acting, but now I'm starting to think I overestimated myself."

The System reasoned with her, "You picked him for a reason, something about him or his personality attracted you, right? You like him, he likes you, there are no obstacles at all."

Lin Qing retorted, "Easy for you to say.

It's not that simple.

Look you know , he kissed me on Monday night, he said we'll talk about it when I'm sober, and now it's Friday!

And Radio Silence.

He didn't replied to my text (she texted him goodnight) and didn't answer my call (a single call in Wednesday morning) "

Lin Qing covered her face with her hands and continued talking

" Oh my god!

Did his feelings change?

Or is he playing hard to get by ghosting me , I am not sure anymore...."

"Relax....

Host, remember the times when you made people cry...

not just boys or girls but adults too!

You're not the type of person who'll slow down without getting what you want.

You're the type of person who says you'll do it and actually does it. Just take a step back and look at things objectively; your emotions are turning everything into a messy blur. Snap out of it," the System encouraged.

Lin Qing rolled her eyes, "How shameless I should get?"

"Host, if not, we might have to abort the mission," the System exclaimed.

Lin Qing angrily responded, "Oh, shut up, would you die if you let a girl just experience her emotions for a second,"

Her phone buzzed up.

Her disappointment was pretty evident when she saw a message from the bodyguard she sent to ensure Qian An's safety discreetly.

Qian An apparently got in a fight with her step-cousin in a club and things were about to get out of hand. So Mr Xu asked Lin Qing for more permission to involve.

Lin Qing decided one bodyguard might not be enough so she called her brother and hurriedly left the house as well.

The noise in this famous club reached a deafening pitch as Lin Qing's lone bodyguard found himself outnumbered by the rowdy crowd.

Most of these guests of this club were kids with wealthy parents so the staff didn't dare to stop them when they were behaving like street fighters, filled the space with cheers and rowdy behavior.

Amidst the chaos, Lin Qing spotted Qian An sprawled on the floor, her face bearing the marks of a brutal assault.

Sharp-eyed and perceptive, Lin Qing realized that this chaotic scene was no random occurrence – it was a carefully planned scheme.

Someone was recording the fight.

Another slap cut through the cacophony. With feigned tears and dramatic flair, Qian Shanshan confronted Qian An, her voice charged with accusations.

"How could you do this, Anna?"

With her exaggerated fake crying, she continued "You're always coveting what's mine. Now, you've even tried to take my boyfriend.

You can have him; after all, we're family. But h- how could you betray me like this?"

The onlookers, drawn into the staged theatrics, exchanged covert whispers and gasped at the unfolding drama.

"Oh they're family"

"How could she do that"

Look at her, this girl is so slutty"

"Poohh"

Qian Shanshan, encircled by her clique of friends and bodyguards, reveled in the meticulously planned chaos she had set in motion.

Qian An, seething with anger, vehemently retorted, "Why would I ever want your repulsive boyfriend? He came onto me. Even if I were to die, I wouldn't lay a finger on him. Stop spreading false rumors, or I'll resort to legal action."

Emboldened by her schemes, Shanshan wore an arrogant smirk, surrounded by her entourage. Her taunts escalated as she talked to her in soft voice "Oh, please. You're just envious. Even your own father doesn't favor you; he cast you out.

Let's see what your followers think about this ' famous influencer' "

Just when three girls about to kick Qian An Lin Qing intervened , "Enough."

Some of Qian Shanshan's friends chinned in ; "Who do you think you are bitch !"

"Look at her!"

"Are you a friend of this slut?

"Birds of a feather flock together"

"I feel like I saw her somewhere?"

Amid the barrage of insults and loud noise, Lin Qing's face didn't change and she didn't answer.

She focused solely on Qian An's face with fury.

Abruptly, the music ceased, and around 20 brawny guys emerged, swiftly restraining those encircling Qian An.

Lin Qing kicked one of the girls surrounding Qian An with alot of force and she fall on her back then she extended her hand, urging Qian An to rise. "Get up" she remarked.

Qian An unwillingly took her hand.

Then Lin Qing's bodyguards, without discrimination, unleashed a torrent of force upon the crowd. Following Lin Qing's directive, they confiscated the guests' phones.

Amidst protests like "You can't do this; I am the son of..." and "You can't do this; I am the daughter of...," accompanied by a flurry of insults and threats, Lin Qing remained unfazed.

"Don't break their bones, just enough for them to stay at home for a couple of weeks," Lin Qing instructed one of the bodyguards as she helped Qian An get up.

"Let's get you home" she said to her.

They left with Mr Xu after giving an order; "Clean this up"

Lin Qing then yelled at the system " Delete everything about this event, I don't want to see anything!"

"Fine, but do you realize that you sometimes talk as if I am an unpaid intern working under you, this is not the attitude of a host should have...." system continued to bicker.